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First-year struggles good lesson for LB Brandon Marshall

Kelly.Jordan@jacksonville.com Linebacker Brandon Marshall keeps his focus while he takes part in a drill during training camp on Sunday.

Jaguars outside linebacker Brandon Marshall’s first year in the NFL was anything but smooth.

Marshall was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, but the investment the franchise made in him wasn’t enough to keep him around.

Marshall was waived on Oct. 27 last year. He signed back with the team three days later, only to be cut again on Nov. 1.

Finally, Marshall found some stability, signing as a practice-squad player on Nov. 5, before being added to the 53-man roster on Dec. 18.

The Nevada product realized he had to improve quickly. His rookie season consisted of playing in five games and making three tackles, all on special teams. To survive in the league, he was going to have to increase his dedication.

Therefore, Marshall sought out arguably the most dedicated player on the roster, standout running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Marshall asked Jones-Drew where he trained in the offseason. Jones-Drew told him about Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami. Bommarito’s has an impressive roster of clients, including San Francisco running back Frank Gore, Chicago running back Matt Forte, Denver linebacker Von Miller, Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons and New England linebacker Brandon Spikes.

“As soon as I went down there, I didn’t regret it,” Marshall said. “It was the best place I’ve ever trained at. I feel like I’ve gotten faster and I’m lighter. I’ve dropped about 10 pounds. I feel much lighter on my feet.”

The extra burst has showed up during the Jaguars’ first few practices of training camp. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Marshall has made multiple big-time plays in coverage.

“I’m just reading my keys and focusing on my responsibilities,” Marshall said. “Great things will happen when you do that.”

Marshall is hoping to solidify a roster spot and possibly challenge Geno Hayes for a starting job.

“He came in ready to go and I know we’ve had some conversations about his progress,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “He said when he was down in Miami working out this summer he said he really showed up. Sometimes it takes those things [getting cut]. Marshall came in in really good shape.”

Marshall is also hopeful a fresh set of eyes evaluating him will have a positive impact on his career. After bouncing on and off the roster as the Jaguars went a franchise-worst 2-14 under coach Mike Mularkey, Marshall seems more suited to Bradley’s style.

“When I first heard we had new coaches I was ecstatic, because it’s a new chance and new opportunity,” Marshall said. “The coaches couldn’t base their opinion of me off last year. It’s worked wonders for me, so I’m so excited and blessed for this new opportunity.”

The Jaguars have some promising depth at outside linebacker. In addition to Marshall, Julian Stanford is also back after starting seven games last season as a rookie. The 6-1, 230-pound Stanford made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Wagner. The 22-year-old Stanford had 36 tackles a season ago.

Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny says he’s already seen a difference in the two players.

“They’ve taken huge steps from their first year to their second,” Posluszny said. “We’re early in camp. So, we still have so many more opportunities for them to get better and they’ve done that. They’ve really stepped up and you can see a huge progression.”